ICU Fire at Jaipur Hospital Kills Nine Patients

A fire broke out late Sunday night in the intensive care unit (ICU) of Sawai Man Singh Hospital in Jaipur, India, caused by a suspected short circuit in the storage area. Eleven patients were admitted in the ICU at the time, and six critically ill patients—two women and four men—died due to suffocation and injuries sustained in the blaze. Hospital staff and firefighters worked to evacuate patients and control the fire, which took nearly two hours to extinguish, but some families accused the hospital of negligence and lack of emergency equipment, allegations denied by hospital officials. The Rajasthan state government has announced an investigation into the incident, with a committee formed to review the causes, hospital response, fire safety measures, and patient evacuation protocols. The Sawai Man Singh Hospital is one of the largest healthcare facilities in Rajasthan, treating thousands daily, and state leaders have expressed commitment to ensuring patient safety moving forward. The tragedy highlights significant concerns about hospital safety infrastructure and emergency preparedness in critical care units.